Tweeters,

Dark and rainy today, but excellent birding at Magnuson. Started off looking
for the Western Sandpiper, knowing how well they're camouflaged I stalked
the shoreline and found a flock of 59 of them busy feeding, this was at the
public-swimming beach. The usual flock of American Wigeon was hanging out
nearby on their favorite patch of grass. On the lake were to be found
Grebes, Mallards, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Common Goldeneyes and
Lesser Scaup. First time this year four Red-breasted Mergansers were
present. Alot of Ring-billed Gulls and a few Glaucous-winged Gulls. The male
Red-winged Blackbirds were very audible today, as were the Robins. (I just
read that the winter Robins are not the same ones we have in summer.)
Spotted three Rufous-sided Towhees and a House Wren. Did not see a Crow or
Canada Geese. In fact have not seen very many Canada Geese this year at all,
at least at Magnuson. The Common Crows are another matter all together, as I
have seen them congregating at dusk near the University Village in huge
numbers. They usually roost in the Arboretum.

Ellen Granfield
Seattle
edgranfield at attbi.com